beachlife

Maybe as the OP I’ll try and end this thread. I think everyone here is correct and I’m not sure why everyone is arguing so much. The chaotic and fragile world we live today and more than ever there are so many bigger issues out there we could all spend our energy.
 
When I started this thread 2 years ago I was at the beginning of my automation journey. I’m in Australia and was already down a path using  Schneider Electric Clipsal CBUS for the lighting backbone. Why - I really like their switch plates especially their eDLTs. Also it’s hard to argue against it being a mature and robust wired solution and this was a new build allowing physical cabling. It has also been around forever and has great local support in Australia. Was there a better choice for the backbone - maybe. But I was already on this path.
 
Before I started this thread and some on other specialist forums seeking advice I was suggested to only use CBUS for automation. And while Schneider Electric Clipsal CBUS does have various automation controllers it seemed to me that they haven’t invested the $s to make a complete user friendly automation interface. I’ve got their NAC as part of my system and it serves a purpose in the backend. But their Wiser product feels incomplete to me. They also bought Push Controls a few years ago and that’s been “coming soon” with a new version forever. 2 years later and it seems the products are both no further along in development. Maybe I’m wrong. 
 
So I think everyone here in this thread is correct. CBUS I think can do it all but from a UI perspective something like Control4 on top makes it much better for me. That’s my personal opinion. 
 
I really wanted a single app interface to bring the different components together. While I don’t mind tinkering myself the system needed to be somewhat “grandma friendly”. From my research and using both Control4 and Savant in person both seemed like really great systems. In the end I went with Savant as that’s the direction my builder and integrator were heading. Control4 would have done the job just as well I think and thank you to this forum for a lot of really useful information and advice. 
 
To close off this thread here is my final system.
CBUS for backend lighting, blind control and shutter control. CBUS GPOs, wall switches including eDLTs SE powertags for breaker level energy monitoring  Large PV system and 200kwh battery system with panel level TIGO optimizers/monitoring SE PLC for power management and load shedding CAT8 wired throughout connected to a Ubiquiti Unifi network using the dream machine pro with a fiber wan connection Ness M1. Also used to send a trigger to a fire suppression system based on heat sensor and thermal camera input. The M1 is probably the “oldest” component of the system but again it’s robust and been around a long time was part of the decision 2N access control and electric strikes for all locks including their commander system  Coolmaster for HVAC VRF control AXIS cameras connected to their network DVR A/V I’ve got Sonos throughout, appletvs and a combination of integra receivers and Sonance indoor/outdoor speakers and amplifiers. A motorised projector and screen and otherwise a some gallery style flat panels Amazon Alexa in ceiling locations. Will be interesting to see how that one works with everything else  Miele WiFi applicances. This one I do think was likely a waste of money   
Over the top - yes. The best out there - that’s personal opinion but probably not. Will it work - I hope so.  Will I need degrees in electrical engineering and software development to operate - hopefully not. Would I do it differently next time - almost definitely.
 
Thank you again to this forum for all the help and advice. I spent hours reading material on this forum. CBUS can do automation. Systems like Savant and Control4 can do it better from a user experience in my humble personal opinion. Control4 is a great system and would have worked for me even though it’s not what I finally used. I might use it next time. 

I hope this thread might help someone in the future thinking of doing a complete over the top system. Maybe it doesn’t. 
 
Over and out.

Maybe as the OP I’ll try and end this thread. I think everyone here is correct and I’m not sure why everyone is arguing so much. The chaotic and fragile world we live today and more than ever there are so many bigger issues out there we could all spend our energy.
 
When I started this thread 2 years ago I was at the beginning of my automation journey. I’m in Australia and was already down a path using  Schneider Electric Clipsal CBUS for the lighting backbone. Why - I really like their switch plates especially their eDLTs. Also it’s hard to argue against it being a mature and robust wired solution and this was a new build allowing physical cabling. It has also been around forever and has great local support in Australia. Was there a better choice for the backbone - maybe. But I was already on this path.
 
Before I started this thread and some on other specialist forums seeking advice I was suggested to only use CBUS for automation. And while Schneider Electric Clipsal CBUS does have various automation controllers it seemed to me that they haven’t invested the $s to make a complete user friendly automation interface. I’ve got their NAC as part of my system and it serves a purpose in the backend. But their Wiser product feels incomplete to me. They also bought Push Controls a few years ago and that’s been “coming soon” with a new version forever. 2 years later and it seems the products are both no further along in development. Maybe I’m wrong. 
 
So I think everyone here in this thread is correct. CBUS I think can do it all but from a UI perspective something like Control4 on top makes it much better for me. That’s my personal opinion. 
 
I really wanted a single app interface to bring the different components together. While I don’t mind tinkering myself the system needed to be somewhat “grandma friendly”. From my research and using both Control4 and Savant in person both seemed like really great systems. In the end I went with Savant as that’s the direction my builder and integrator were heading. Control4 would have done the job just as well I think and thank you to this forum for a lot of really useful information and advice. 
 
To close off this thread here is my final system.
CBUS for backend lighting, blind control and shutter control. CBUS GPOs, wall switches including eDLTs SE powertags for breaker level energy monitoring  Large PV system and 200kwh battery system with panel level TIGO optimizers/monitoring SE PLC for power management and load shedding CAT8 wired throughout connected to a Ubiquiti Unifi network using the dream machine pro with a fiber wan connection Ness M1. Also used to send a trigger to a fire suppression system based on heat sensor and thermal camera input. The M1 is probably the “oldest” component of the system but again it’s robust and been around a long time was part of the decision 2N access control and electric strikes for all locks including their commander system  Coolmaster for HVAC VRF control AXIS cameras connected to their network DVR A/V I’ve got Sonos throughout, appletvs and a combination of integra receivers and Sonance indoor/outdoor speakers and amplifiers. A motorised projector and screen and otherwise a some gallery style flat panels Amazon Alexa in ceiling locations. Will be interesting to see how that one works with everything else  Miele WiFi applicances. This one I do think was likely a waste of money   
Over the top - yes. The best out there - that’s personal opinion but probably not. Will it work - I hope so.  Will I need degrees in electrical engineering and software development to operate - hopefully not. Would I do it differently next time - almost definitely.
 
Thank you again to this forum for all the help and advice. I spent hours reading material on this forum. CBUS can do automation. Systems like Savant and Control4 can do it better from a user experience in my humble personal opinion. Control4 is a great system and would have worked for me even though it’s not what I finally used. I might use it next time. 

I hope this thread might help someone in the future thinking of doing a complete over the top system. Maybe it doesn’t. 
 
Over and out.

Maybe as the OP I’ll try and end this thread. I think everyone here is correct and I’m not sure why everyone is arguing so much. The chaotic and fragile world we live today and more than ever there are so many bigger issues out there we could all spend our energy.
 
When I started this thread 2 years ago I was at the beginning of my automation journey. I’m in Australia and was already down a path using  Schneider Electric Clipsal CBUS for the lighting backbone. Why - I really like their switch plates especially their eDLTs. Also it’s hard to argue against it being a mature and robust wired solution and this was a new build allowing physical cabling. It has also been around forever and has great local support in Australia. Was there a better choice for the backbone - maybe. But I was already on this path.
 
Before I started this thread and some on other specialist forums seeking advice I was suggested to only use CBUS for automation. And while Schneider Electric Clipsal CBUS does have various automation controllers it seemed to me that they haven’t invested the $s to make a complete user friendly automation interface. I’ve got their NAC as part of my system and it serves a purpose in the backend. But their Wiser product feels incomplete to me. They also bought Push Controls a few years ago and that’s been “coming soon” with a new version forever. 2 years later and it seems the products are both no further along in development. Maybe I’m wrong. 
 
So I think everyone here in this thread is correct. CBUS I think can do it all but from a UI perspective something like Control4 on top makes it much better for me. That’s my personal opinion. 
 
I really wanted a single app interface to bring the different components together. While I don’t mind tinkering myself the system needed to be somewhat “grandma friendly”. From my research and using both Control4 and Savant in person both seemed like really great systems. In the end I went with Savant as that’s the direction my builder and integrator were heading. Control4 would have done the job just as well I think and thank you to this forum for a lot of really useful information and advice. 
 
To close off this thread here is my final system.
CBUS for backend lighting, blind control and shutter control. CBUS GPOs, wall switches including eDLTs SE powertags for breaker level energy monitoring  Large PV system and 200kwh battery system with panel level TIGO optimizers/monitoring SE PLC for power management and load shedding CAT8 wired throughout connected to a Ubiquiti Unifi network using the dream machine pro with a fiber wan connection Ness M1. Also used to send a trigger to a fire suppression system based on heat sensor and thermal camera input. The M1 is probably the “oldest” component of the system but again it’s robust and been around a long time was part of the decision 2N access control and electric strikes for all locks including their commander system  Coolmaster for HVAC VRF control AXIS cameras connected to their network DVR A/V I’ve got Sonos throughout, appletvs and a combination of integra receivers and Sonance indoor/outdoor speakers and amplifiers. A motorised projector and screen and otherwise a some gallery style flat panels Amazon Alexa in ceiling locations. Will be interesting to see how that one works with everything else  Miele WiFi applicances. This one I do think was likely a waste of money   
Over the top - yes. The best out there - that’s personal opinion but probably not. Will it work - I hope so.  Will I need degrees in electrical engineering and software development to operate - hopefully not. Would I do it differently next time - almost definitely.
 
Thank you again to this forum for all the help and advice. I spent hours reading material on this forum. CBUS can do automation. Systems like Savant and Control4 can do it better from a user experience in my humble personal opinion. Control4 is a great system and would have worked for me even though it’s not what I finally used. I might use it next time. 

I hope this thread might help someone in the future thinking of doing a complete over the top system. Maybe it doesn’t. 
 
Over and out.